16 



SUMMARY OF RESULTS. 



1. The rate of increase in live weight was highest during the first 

 winter season, 1889-90. The daily increase in live weight averaged 

 in case of steer 1 to 2.5 pounds, and in tlie case of steer 2 to 3.3 

 pounds, for a period of six weeks, when fodder rations II. and III. 

 were fed. The market value of the stated daily increase in live 

 weight, at 3| cents per pound, would anaount to 9.4 cents in case 

 of steer 1, and to 12.4 cents in case of steer 2. As the market cost 

 of these two fodder rations averages 13.8 cents and their net cost 

 5.03 cents, it will be noticed that the value gained by the stated 

 increase in live weight does in neither case pay •fully for the food 

 consumed for its production ; yet there remains a noticeable 

 margin of profit on the net cost of the daily feed in form of obtainable 

 manure — i. e., 4.37 cents per day in case of steer 1, and 7.37 cents 

 in case of steer 2. 



2. The average of the daily increase in the live weight of the 

 steers during the entire period of pasture feeding amounted, in case 

 of steer 1 to .87 pounds, and in the case of steer 2 to 0.58 pounds. 

 This increase in live weight represents on an average a market value 

 of 3.18 cents in case of the former, and in that of the latter of 2.18 

 cents. Our expenses for the use of the pasture, per head, was 40 

 cents per week or 5.7 cents per day. We lost, per head, 3 cents per 

 day, or 21 cents per week on each animal ; not counting expenses 

 for transportation to and from the pasture, loss of interest on the 

 investment, etc. 



3. The financial results of the second winter feeding are less 

 satisfactory than those secured during the first winter feeding. This 

 fact is due to two circumstances ; namely, higher market cost of 

 several coarse and fine fodder articles used and less nutritive effect of 

 the fodder rations experimented with. The daily increase in live 

 weight did at no time exceed 2.33 pounds per head. The market cost 

 of the various daily fodder rations used during the time stated varied 

 from 16.8 cents to 27.48 cents per head, while their net cost differed 

 from 6.85 cents to 15.59 cents. The highest temporary increase in 

 live weight noticed, per day, 2.33 pounds, would realize in our 

 market only 12.37 cents, which amount is still 4.5 cents less than the 

 market cost of the cheapest daily fodder ration, I. Period, used. 



The results of the second feeding experiment emphasize the state- 

 ments made in connection with the report of our first experiment ; 

 namely, cheaper and more efficient fodder rations than most of our 

 grasslands — meadows and pastures— can furnish have to be devised 

 to render the production of beef for our meat markets remunerative. 



Our observations with growing steers have been continued, and 

 feeding experiments carried on without the assistance of summer 

 pasturing are v^ell advanced. 



C. A. GOESSMANN, Director. 



Amherst, Mass., October 21st, 1892. 



